Regeneration News

Bracknell town centre regeneration

Bracknell Town Centre is entering an exciting stage in its evolution. The redevelopment plans include new homes, shops, leisure facilities and landscaped public spaces. Further news will be announced by the Bracknell Regeneration Partnership (BRP), owned 50/50 by Schroders and Legal & General, over the coming months - so keep checking this website for the latest information.

The new Waitrose store has been a huge success and with Romans new offices due for completion in November 2012, there is no doubt that the long awaited regeneration is gaining some real momentum.

In the South, Princess Square will be undergoing some signification improvements early in 2013. In addition, planning approval has been granted to transform the main entrance and introduce a larger retail space.

A Section 73 planning application has also been submitted which, in essence, changes a few planning details like the uses or configuration of the original planning application for the northern part of the town centre.

To make the regeneration happen as quickly as possible, we are looking at a phased approach, with the northern part of the scheme being built first.

The Bracknell Regeneration Partnership is working on detailed plans which show how the buildings will look. We have a celebrated consultant’s team working hard on technical specifications, finishes, landscaping, public realm, sustainability and all the other major things involved in producing a scheme of this scale.

Once these are submitted we will hold a public exhibition so that local residents and businesses can easily view the latest designs.

Following the recent public exhibition on the proposed plans for the northern area of the town centre, images can now be found on the Regeneration Exhibition page.

Waitrose

The new Waitrose food store, located between Millennium Way and Bond Way, was opened in November 2011. The 3,345 sq metres, supermarket includes 240 car parking spaces car park for shoppers.

The store is significantly larger than other Waitrose stores in Wokingham, Sunningdale and Sandhurst who have sales areas of 2,247 sq metres, 1,451 sq metres and 1,753 sq metres respectively. Service includes fresh service counters, its scan as you shop service, Waitrose Quick Check and its online shopping service, Waitrose Deliver. There is also a small coffee shop offering approximately 65 covers.

The store incorporates both contemporary design with natural materials i.e. a feature curved roof, a Hedera Ivy wall and sustainable timber panels. A ‘green roof’ will reduce the amount of rain that runs off the roof, provide a safe habitat for wildlife and reduce the need for air conditioning or heating. Existing landscaping is enhanced by the planting of hedges, shrubs, grasses, clumbers and trees

The new Waitrose store has achieved a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) ‘Excellent’ rating for the new store - 100% of the store’s electricity will come from green sources and the latest refrigeration technology will help reduce the store’s carbon footprint by 20%.

Cycle paths are proposed to the south side of the scheme running to the BR station and the store will be a unique Waitrose design with an entrance facing towards the town centre to fully integrate the store into the regeneration as a whole.

Cineworld set to come to Bracknell

BRP has agreed a pre-let to the UK’s number one cinema chain by box office, Cineworld, for a 12-screen, 41,500 sq ft cinema on a key site in the north of Bracknell’s town centre on a 25 year lease.

The cinema will have 12 screens and the latest with 3D technology. The building has been carefully designed to integrate closely with new retail and car parking provisions, as well as providing the most up to date technology and the highest quality of customer experience.

Cineworld, which already operates 79 cinemas across the UK and Ireland, is one of the market leaders in 3D and is committed to improving the customer experience, including by innovation. In March 2012, Cineworld became the first cinema operator in the UK that does not charge its customers a booking fee and gave the added benefit of a 10% reduction for all on-line bookings made via its innovative MyCineworld portal.

This latest agreement forms part of BRP’s drive to secure key pre-lets in order to bring forward the redevelopment of the northern element of Bracknell Town Centre and follows the successful completion of the Waitrose.

Marks & Spencer is coming to town

The Bracknell Regeneration Partnership is delighted to announce that it has signed a pre-let to Marks & Spencer (M&S) for an 80,000 sq ft store on a key site in the north of Bracknell town centre on a 25 year lease.

The new M&S store will be arranged over two levels. The store will be located immediately adjacent to Millenium Way, in sight of Waitrose and the recently announced 12-screen Cineworld cinema.

The site, which forms part of the comprehensive redevelopment of the northern part of the town centre, will be surrounded not only by a significant critical mass of new retailers but also by a collection of family orientated restaurants. This will provide a significant boost to Bracknell's evening economy.

Princess Square shopping centre

Princess Square has planning permission to remove the existing entrance canopy and reclad the front of the building including new signage and doors.

The shopping centre will also receive a face list with new ceilings and lighting. In addition the customer lifts are also being replaced.

Other regeneration news:

Winchester House is owned by Comer Homes. Plans were exhibited last December for a proposed 50m development.

The scheme consists of a 19-storey block of 311 flats, a gym and two business units suitable for a restaurant or retail use.

The architects behind the plan, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, designed the Infinity Tower in Dubai.

Romans estate agents is now open in a new 1,700 sq ft branch office on The Ring, opposite The Old Manor House pub. This has replaced their old building on The Broadway which will be demolished to make way for the regeneration.

To help pave the way for regeneration, Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership has announced they will be providing £1.5million of Growing Places Funds for infrastructure works and refurbishment of the bus station. Improving the transport infrastructure is an important part of this regeneration scheme. The money will help with much needed infrastructure work to the town centre – including the bus station which is a vital transport hub for the town.